BELLEVUE, Neb. – The (25) Ottawa University women's volleyball team was defeated in its first two matches of the GoSarpy.com Classic on Friday at the Lied Activity Center. Ottawa fell 3-1; 25-27, 25-22, 19-25, 23-25; to Dickinson State University and then lost 3-0; 15-25, 17-25, 22-25; to Morningside University.
Dickinson State University
How it Happened

• Ottawa had the lead through most of set no. 1 and had a 18-13 advantage over the Blue Hawks. DSU rallied, outscoring OU 8-3 to tie the match at 21 all. A kill by Campbell Stark gave OU a 25-24 lead. The Blue Hawks responded by scoring the next three points, taking the set 27-25.
• In set two, the Braves found themselves down 13-8. OU chipped away at the DSU lead and took its first lead of the set on a Blue Hawk attacking error, 16-15. The teams exchanged points and led 23-21 on a kill by Radaisy Valdez. The Braves held DSU to one more point in the set, taking the 25-22 victory.
• OU trailed early in set three. DSU opened with an 8-2 lead over the Braves. Ottawa was not able to rally and Dickinson State took the 25-19 victory.
• Set four went back and forth with the Braves taking a 19-17 lead on a Stark kill. DSU rallied, taking a 22-20 lead over OU. The Braves were not able to stage a comeback and the Blue Hawks took the 25-23 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Ottawa finished the match with 52 kills, a .211 attacking percentage, 50 assists, four service aces, 68 digs, and seven team blocks.
• Radaisy Valdez led OU with 16 kills. She had a .368 attacking percentage, five blocks, and eight digs.
• Campbell Stark was the other Brave with double digit kills. She finished the match with 14 kills.
• Madison Brauner had a double-double. The sophomore setter led OU with 27 assists. She also had 13 digs.
• Kenzie Kuxhaus led Ottawa with 16 digs.

Morningside
How it Happened

• The Braves fell behind early in set one and trailed 8-3. Ottawa cut into the Mustang lead. Kills by Kira Cherry and Hollie Peters put OU within 12-8. OU was not able to get any closer and Morningside took the 25-15 victory.
• Ottawa led 8-7 in set two but Morningside scored six straight points, taking a 13-8 lead over OU. The Braves cut into the Mustang lead and were within 13-11 after two straight attacking errors by MU. OU, however, was not able to compete the rally and Morningside took the 25-17 victory.
• The teams exchanged points at the start of set three. Two kills by Valdez cut the Morningside lead to 14-13. Ottawa continued to stay within striking distance and tied the set at 20 all on a kill by Arian Arciniega. The Mustangs responded by scoring four straight points to take a 24-20 lead. Ottawa scored the next two points on a Valdez kill and service ace, 24-22 but the Braves were not able to complete the rally. Morningside scored the next point, taking a 25-22 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Ottawa finished the three set match with 38 kills, a .196 attacking percentage, 36 assists, two service aces, 37 digs, and two team blocks.
• Radaisy Valdez led the Braves with 11 kills. She had a .550 attacking percentage.
• Madison Brauner had 19 assists and Loraine Ruiz finished with 16 assists.
• Kenzie Kuxhaus had 14 digs.

Who is Next
Ottawa (0-2) finishes the GoSarpy.com Classic on Saturday, August 24 against Dordt University at the Lied Activity Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.